Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Powell, Citing Jobs Risk, Opens Door to Cuts but Doesn’t Commit

6 hours ago

Gaza City Officially in Famine, With Hunger Spreading, Says Global Hunger Monitor

6 hours ago

Gavin Newsom’s Redistricting Plan Is on Its Way to Voters. What You Need to Know

22 hours ago

CARB Executive Leader Rips Trump’s EPA for Seeking to Kill Proven Climate Science

1 day ago

California Lawmakers Advance First Two Bills in Democrats’ Redistricting Plan

1 day ago

Judge Rules Alina Habba Was Unlawfully Appointed as US Attorney in New Jersey

1 day ago

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Latest Role Is Social Media Troll

1 day ago
US Senators Are Set to Grill Officials From 5 Airlines Over Fees for Seats and Checked Bags
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 9 months ago on
December 4, 2024

Senate panel to scrutinize airline executives over growing use of fees for services once included in ticket prices. (AP/Damian Dovarganes)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A U.S. Senate panel planned to take aim at airline executives Wednesday for the carriers’ growing use of fees for early boarding, better seats and other comforts that used to be part of the ticket price.

The panel’s chairman, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said he thinks the federal government should review and perhaps fine the airlines for their use of what he called junk fees, which he said raise prices for consumers.

Blumenthal said seat fees are pure profit for the airlines because they don’t have to create new seats or incur other expenses by allowing customers to select their own seats.

The fees don’t seem to be discouraging anybody. Americans are flying more than ever.

Record-Breaking Air Travel Numbers

The Transportation Security Administration reported screening nearly 3.1 million travelers at airports around the country on Sunday, a new single-day record. The 15 busiest days in TSA history have all occurred this year, with traffic at airport checkpoints up 5% over 2023.

Airline executives bristle at the term “junk fees,” and argue they are merely giving consumers what they want: choices.

“Our customers who prioritize affordability have the option to choose a lower-fare product and, in doing so, opt out of paying for additional services that they do not want,” Andrew Nocella, the chief commercial officer of United Airlines, said in testimony prepared for the panel’s hearing Wednesday. “But we also have customers who seek more services, and they retain the ability to choose the services they value, for an incremental fee, like a seat with extra legroom or checked bags.”

Nocella agreed with critics who say fees should not come as a surprise to passengers but need to be transparent and described clearly during the ticket-buying process.

Billions Raised Through Airline Fees

U.S. airlines raised more than $7 billion from fees on checked bags last year, with American and United leading the pack. They scooped up another $1 billion in ticket-change and cancellation fees, although that was about one-third of what they raised before the coronavirus pandemic, when the biggest airlines dropped change fees.

Exact figures on other types of fees are hard to determine, but the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations reported last week that United, American, Delta, Frontier and Spirit collected a combined total of more than $12 billion in seat fees between 2018 and 2023. That included charges for things such as more legroom or an aisle seat near the front of the plane.

The panel was scheduled to hear Wednesday from Nocella, American chief strategy officer Steve Johnson, Delta chief external affairs officer Peter Carter, and the chief commercial officers of Frontier and Spirit.

Airline fees have been a frequent target of criticism by the Biden administration, all the way up to President Joe Biden.

A Transportation Department rule that took effect in October requires airlines to make automatic cash refunds for tickets and fees when flights are canceled. The airline industry is suing to block another regulation requiring more prominent disclosure of baggage and cancellation fees. An appeals court has blocked that rule, and its fate is uncertain under President-elect Donald Trump.

The airline industry and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are continuing their fight over fees and other regulations, even after the November election.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Fresno Firefighters Contain Cambridge Avenue Blaze, No Injuries Reported

DON'T MISS

With Major Heat Risk Forecast, This Is a Good Weekend to Stay Indoors in Fresno

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Intel Has Agreed to Deal for US to Take 10% Equity Stake

DON'T MISS

Epstein Associate Maxwell Says She Never Saw Trump Behave Inappropriately

DON'T MISS

Wrongly Deported Migrant Abrego to Be Released Soon, Lawyer Says

DON'T MISS

Remembering Ron McCary, Who Did It All for KMJ

DON'T MISS

I Was Preyed On for My VA Benefits. California Can Stop It

DON'T MISS

Texas Senate Debates Redistricting Bill, Is Expected to Pass It Easily

DON'T MISS

Trump: DC Mayor Bowser Must Get Act Together or Won’t Be Mayor Anymore

DON'T MISS

Community Shares Messages of Support for Joseph Castro While He Is in Hospice Care

UP NEXT

With Major Heat Risk Forecast, This Is a Good Weekend to Stay Indoors in Fresno

UP NEXT

Trump Says Intel Has Agreed to Deal for US to Take 10% Equity Stake

UP NEXT

Epstein Associate Maxwell Says She Never Saw Trump Behave Inappropriately

UP NEXT

Wrongly Deported Migrant Abrego to Be Released Soon, Lawyer Says

UP NEXT

Remembering Ron McCary, Who Did It All for KMJ

UP NEXT

I Was Preyed On for My VA Benefits. California Can Stop It

UP NEXT

Texas Senate Debates Redistricting Bill, Is Expected to Pass It Easily

UP NEXT

Trump: DC Mayor Bowser Must Get Act Together or Won’t Be Mayor Anymore

UP NEXT

Community Shares Messages of Support for Joseph Castro While He Is in Hospice Care

UP NEXT

Bulldogs Hope to Make Kansas Dust in the Wind as Entz, Warner Debut

Epstein Associate Maxwell Says She Never Saw Trump Behave Inappropriately

2 hours ago

Wrongly Deported Migrant Abrego to Be Released Soon, Lawyer Says

2 hours ago

Remembering Ron McCary, Who Did It All for KMJ

2 hours ago

I Was Preyed On for My VA Benefits. California Can Stop It

3 hours ago

Texas Senate Debates Redistricting Bill, Is Expected to Pass It Easily

3 hours ago

Trump: DC Mayor Bowser Must Get Act Together or Won’t Be Mayor Anymore

3 hours ago

Community Shares Messages of Support for Joseph Castro While He Is in Hospice Care

3 hours ago

Bulldogs Hope to Make Kansas Dust in the Wind as Entz, Warner Debut

3 hours ago

Wall Street Soars as Powell Hints at Rate Cut in September

4 hours ago

Trump’s Tariffs Could Reduce US Deficit by $4 Trillion, CBO Estimates

4 hours ago

Fresno Firefighters Contain Cambridge Avenue Blaze, No Injuries Reported

Fresno firefighters contained a house fire Friday morning on the 1600 block of East Cambridge Avenue, preventing major damage, officials sai...

17 minutes ago

On Friday, August 22, 2025, Fresno firefighters contained a house fire on East Cambridge Avenue, preventing major damage and reporting no injuries. (Fresno Fire)
17 minutes ago

Fresno Firefighters Contain Cambridge Avenue Blaze, No Injuries Reported

Fresno heat hot heatwave High Humidity
57 minutes ago

With Major Heat Risk Forecast, This Is a Good Weekend to Stay Indoors in Fresno

A smartphone with a displayed Intel logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken March 6, 2023. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

Trump Says Intel Has Agreed to Deal for US to Take 10% Equity Stake

Ghislaine Maxwell appears via video link during her arraignment hearing in Manhattan Federal Court, in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S. July 14, 2020 in this courtroom sketch. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

Epstein Associate Maxwell Says She Never Saw Trump Behave Inappropriately

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant who lived in the U.S. legally with a work permit and was erroneously deported to El Salvador, is seen wearing a Chicago Bulls hat, in this handout image obtained by Reuters on April 9, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

Wrongly Deported Migrant Abrego to Be Released Soon, Lawyer Says

Ron McCary
2 hours ago

Remembering Ron McCary, Who Did It All for KMJ

Silvery military beads with dog tag on United States fabric flag and camouflage uniform
3 hours ago

I Was Preyed On for My VA Benefits. California Can Stop It

Republican State Senator Pete Flores looks over redistricting maps as the Republicans attempt to pass a bill that would redraw the state's 38 congressional districts, at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas, U.S. August 22, 2025. (Reuters/Nuri Vallbona)
3 hours ago

Texas Senate Debates Redistricting Bill, Is Expected to Pass It Easily

Search

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Send this to a friend